Hawthorne High School brought home the Kick-Off Classic trophy from the Jefferson Township High School Marching Band Competition on Saturday, September 19, 2015. The Hawthorne band won first place in the Group 2 Class A division.

The band has been preparing for this annual competition since mid-August, working hard, in the heat of summer, from 9 to 5. Rookie members began the season by meeting together and getting accustomed to marching basics and the music. Veteran members soon joined them to put the new show all together.

Co-drum major, Adamarie Santiago, jumped into her new position with excitement for this year’s band events. “My goal was to get everybody comfortable. The more comfortable we get with each other,” she said, “the more we know how to communicate and ask questions. The more questions we ask, the more trust we’re going to gain and that lets us read each other’s body language so we can coordinate our movements on the field.”

Santiago believes the HHS band earned first place due to the passion the members have. “At practice, everyone is so excited, and we all love to be together and play music.”

Co-drum major Michael Carone agrees. “Everyone in the band knows what they’re doing, and they’re passionate about being in the band. We make the band our family from day one of band camp. Instead of making rookies start out at the bottom of some ladder, everyone feels equal. We’re not only performing for ourselves, but also for our family and the good of the whole band. It’s this group mentality that gives us confidence and puts Hawthorne ahead of all other schools.”

The next challenge for the band is a competition on October 3 at Ramsey High School.  Given the work ethic and attitude of this group, it seems HHS may need to make more room in the trophy case.